Apparatus for purging guns.



W. J. SMART.

APPARATUS FOR PURGING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1910.

1,160,778. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

muzzle. When the fluid employed isa fire 35 I of the muzzle.

V UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WALTER 3'. SMART, OF NEW YORK, N.

APPARATUS FOR PIIRGING GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedN 01 .16, 1915.

AppIication filed September 27, 1910. Serial N 0. 584.023;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. SMART, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Purging Guns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to ordnance and the art of operating the same and has for its object to provide an improved method of and apparatus for purging guns, particularly large guns, of the products of combustion and of the burning or unconsumed portions of powder and powder contalner remainmg in the chamber and bore after a discharge,

for extinguishing fire in the chamber and bore of the gun, and for cleansing the surfaces of these portions of the gun, between 1 its discharge and the opening of the breach.

Some fluid, which in practice may possess fire extinguishing qualities, such for instance as steam or carbonic acid gas, will be admitted to the chamber at its extreme rear and forced over the rear wall of the chamber and past the corner formed by the juncture of the side wallof the chamber with its rear wall, through the chamber and from the chamber through the bore and out of the extinguisher it will extinguish whatever fire may be present, blow the unconsumed portions of the powder and powder sack out of the gun, and blow the smoke and gases out When the breech is then opened there will be no escape of smoke or gas behind the gun and no flareback. This 'fluid will so have cleansed the gun that it will be in proper condition to receive its next charge. The breech may be opened not only equipment.

with perfect safety to the gunner but with comfort as well. The flareback and premature explosions are positively prevented thus assuring safety to the gunner and to the Smoke and gas are not dis- -chargedbehind the gun, which discharge is not only uncomfortable and injurious to the gunner, but also impairs his efficiency.

There generally is a steam plant in the fort or battleship, and this will be conveniently used in some cases. Compressed air will have sufficient pressure or force when liberated at the extreme base of the breech to tear loose any imconsumed rags sticking to the chamber as well as to expel all flame and ga s;

After the shot is expelled by the pressure of the gas the base of the gun will remain full of slowly burning gas since the only inlet for air is at the muzzle. When the gunners open the breech it is possible for a gust of'wind to blow this flame back to the gun deck, and some fluid suitable to expel this smoke and flame will be employed. The fluid may be an extinguisher of such flame "and is liberated under such pressure as to force everything out of the muzzle.

In applying my improvements to the gun the cleansing fluid may be admitted without in any manner weakening the parts of the form of a practicable embodiment of my improved apparatus and which may conveniently be employed in practising my improved method and in which drawings,

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the rear portion of a gun, and, Fig. 2 a

rear elevation of the parts shown in Fig. l.

So much only of agun is illustrated as is necessary 'to show the manner in which my improvements may be employed in connection with a gun and especially how it may types of gun without materially changing the parts thereof.

The breech'block 5 is shown mounted in closed position in the breech 6 of the gun.

be employed in connection with existing Which block will close the chamber 7. And Q Which block will be operated in whatever manner the particular style of gun to which the invention is applied will require.

The breech block is shown carrying the usual form of mushroom head 8 which head normally has a certain amount of longitudinal movement relative to the breech block. Behind the mushroom head and between the forward end of the breech block isshown a P Of Plates 9, 10. Between which plates is a'soft'washer 11 forming a gas-check for the purpose of making a gas tight joint upon pressure within the chamber. The l 'stem 12 of the mushroom head 8 moves through the plates 9, 10, and the compres 

